The North East Metropolitan Language Development Centre (NEMLDC) is a centre for educational excellence in the provision of specialist programs for eligible students with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). Students attending the school participate in a high-quality teaching and learning program that accelerates their language growth and optimises potential as life-long learners.
Language
- Semantics: refers to the meaning of words and how they are used to convey ideas. Children with language difficulties may struggle to understand the meaning of words, especially when they have multiple meanings or are used in different contexts. Developing strong semantic skills helps children with language difficulties understand and express ideas clearly.
- Grammar: is the set of rules that help us put words together correctly to make sentences. It refers to word order, verb tenses, and how we form plurals. Children with DLD may have trouble with grammar, which can make it harder for them to express themselves in a way others can understand.
- Comprehension / Receptive Language: is the ability to understand what is being said or read. It involves making sense of words, remembering details, and connecting ideas. Children with language disorders might struggle with understanding instructions, stories, or conversations, which can affect their learning and social interactions.
- Narrative: refers to the ability to tell and retell a story. It is a complex skill which draws on many other language areas and involves organising events and thoughts into a logical sequence, so it makes sense to other people. The goal of teaching narrative is for children to internalise the structure and patterns of stories (e.g. beginning, middle, end) rather than memorise stories.
- Social Skills: refers to skills that help children interact with others in a positive way. Social skills explicitly taught at the NEMLDC include non-verbal communication skills, conversations skills, emotions and peer interactions. Children with language difficulties may need these to be explicitly taught and modelled.
Current research from speech pathology and educational disciplines guides program delivery, goal setting and classroom pedagogy to improve student success in language and literacy. Collection of data in each language area informs decision making regarding planning and student support, as well as providing insight into areas that are working well and those that require improvement.
Literacy
Literacy refers to the ability to read and write. It includes understanding letters and sounds, reading for meaning, and expressing ideas in writing. Children with DLD may need additional support to develop the skills to become successful readers and writers.
The NEMLDC delivers InitiaLit as the whole school literacy program from Pre-primary – Year 2. InitiaLit is an evidence-based, whole-class literacy program which provides all children with the essential core knowledge and strong foundations to become successful readers and writers. The program incorporates the teaching of synthetic phonics within an explicit and systematic teaching framework, to teach students critical skills for reading and writing alongside comprehension and vocabulary. Regular InitiaLit assessments are analysed at student, class and cohort levels, and these assessments help identify students who may require additional Tier 2 or 3 literacy support across Pre-primary to Year 2.